About Us
The Baytown Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1968 to bring fine music to the Baytown community, provide an outlet for talented community members and to encourage student musicians. Professional musicians from the area fill in the ensemble as necessary. The BSO is operated by a Board of Directors and is part of the Lee College Visual and Performing Arts department. The Baytown Symphony Orchestra is supported by generous community members through the sale of program advertisements, patron donations, corporate grants and an annual gala fundraiser.
Pierre-Alain Chevalier Music Director and Conductor
French born conductor Pierre-Alain Chevalier is a captivating performer and dedicated music educator. In July, 2016 he was named a winner of the International Conductors Workshop and Competition in Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to his new post with the Baytown Symphony Orchestra, Chevalier is Artistic Director and Founder of the Bayou City Symphony and adjunct instructor of music at San Jacinto College, Lone Star College, and Lee College. Since 2012 he has served the community of Houston as a high school orchestra clinician in the Cypress-Fairbanks, Spring, Klein, Katy, and Houston independent school districts. He also served as choir director of Sam Houston MSTC High School and the southwest campus of Houston Community College.
In concert Chevalier has conducted the Rainier Symphony, the Bayou City Symphony, the Rose City Chamber Orchestra, the Hartt Symphony Orchestra and Contemporary Players, the Moores School Symphony, Chamber and Concerto orchestras, Houston Community College’s Southwest Choir, the Houston Cecelia Chamber Choir, the Liedertafel Harmonie (choir of the German-American Society of Portland), Willamette University band, choirs and Dramatic Vocal Arts ensemble, musical theater and opera productions, and primary and secondary student choirs and instrumental ensembles
In addition to his new post with the Baytown Symphony Orchestra, Chevalier is Artistic Director and Founder of the Bayou City Symphony and adjunct instructor of music at San Jacinto College, Lone Star College, and Lee College. Since 2012 he has served the community of Houston as a high school orchestra clinician in the Cypress-Fairbanks, Spring, Klein, Katy, and Houston independent school districts. He also served as choir director of Sam Houston MSTC High School and the southwest campus of Houston Community College.
In concert Chevalier has conducted the Rainier Symphony, the Bayou City Symphony, the Rose City Chamber Orchestra, the Hartt Symphony Orchestra and Contemporary Players, the Moores School Symphony, Chamber and Concerto orchestras, Houston Community College’s Southwest Choir, the Houston Cecelia Chamber Choir, the Liedertafel Harmonie (choir of the German-American Society of Portland), Willamette University band, choirs and Dramatic Vocal Arts ensemble, musical theater and opera productions, and primary and secondary student choirs and instrumental ensembles
Chevalier holds degrees from the Moores School of Music (Doctor of Musical Arts: Orchestral Conducting), The Hartt School (Master of Music: Orchestral Conducting) and Willamette University (Bachelor of Music: Music Education).
DENNIS EICHLER CONDUCTOR
Fall 2003 - Spring 2016
Dennis was born and raised in Alice, TX where he had the opportunity of playing in one of the finest high school bands in the state. He received his Bachelors degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and a Masters in Education from the University of Houston. He started his career as an assistant band director at W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi. In July of 1978 Dennis took the position as band director at Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown. While at Lee his bands won numerous awards from contests and festivals throughout the Southwest Dennis was promoted to Head of the Music Department at Ross Sterling High School where his responsibilities included conducting the full orchestra, band and marching band. While at Sterling Mr. Eichler’s organizations won acclaim from countless educators and adjudicators. Under Dennis’s leadership, his groups have won a total of 33 UIL Sweepstakes awards.
Dennis is also an active adjudicator, clinician and performer. He is a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and has conducted many All-Region Bands and Orchestras in the Southeast as well as the Texas Symphonic Band in Europe and the University of Yucatan Symphony Orchestra. He is also founder and director of the Bayou Big Band, a professional jazz band that performs all over the Houston area. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu Fraternity, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, National Association of Jazz Educators, and Houston Professional Musicians Association. He and his wife Lynda reside in The Woodlands, Texas.
Fall 2003 - Spring 2016
Dennis was born and raised in Alice, TX where he had the opportunity of playing in one of the finest high school bands in the state. He received his Bachelors degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and a Masters in Education from the University of Houston. He started his career as an assistant band director at W. B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi. In July of 1978 Dennis took the position as band director at Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown. While at Lee his bands won numerous awards from contests and festivals throughout the Southwest Dennis was promoted to Head of the Music Department at Ross Sterling High School where his responsibilities included conducting the full orchestra, band and marching band. While at Sterling Mr. Eichler’s organizations won acclaim from countless educators and adjudicators. Under Dennis’s leadership, his groups have won a total of 33 UIL Sweepstakes awards.
Dennis is also an active adjudicator, clinician and performer. He is a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and has conducted many All-Region Bands and Orchestras in the Southeast as well as the Texas Symphonic Band in Europe and the University of Yucatan Symphony Orchestra. He is also founder and director of the Bayou Big Band, a professional jazz band that performs all over the Houston area. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu Fraternity, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, National Association of Jazz Educators, and Houston Professional Musicians Association. He and his wife Lynda reside in The Woodlands, Texas.
Dr. David Corder Conductor and Founder
For many of us, Dr. David Corder is synonymous with the BSO. Looking to entice more college professors and teachers to come to Lee College, Dr. Corder founded the orchestra fifty years ago. He had hoped that the prospect of teaching and then playing in the group would help bring talented musicians together in Baytown. For 38 years he led the group and has become part of the fabric of the community. Thank you Dr. Corder for giving your heart and soul to the organization for the last fifty years.
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